Multi-Scale Reliability and Serviceability Assessment of In-Service Long-Span Bridges


Book Description

With the development in global economic and transportation engineering, the traffic loads on brides have been growing steadily, which become potential safety hazards for existing bridges. In particular, long-span suspension bridges support heavy traffic volumes and simultaneous truck loads on the bridge deck, and thus the safety and serviceability of the bridge deserves investigation. In this book, a multiscale reliability method is presented for the safety assessment of long-span bridges. The multiscale failure condition of stiffness girders is the first-passage criteria for the large-scale model and the fatigue damage criteria for the small-scale model. It is the objective of this book to provide a more in-depth understanding of the vehicle-bridge interaction from the random vibration perspective. This book is suitable for adoption as a text book or a reference book in an advanced structural reliability analysis course. Furthermore, this book also provides a theoretical foundation for better understanding of the safety assessment, operation management, maintenance and reinforcement for long-span bridges and motivates further research and development for more advanced reliability and serviceability assessment techniques for long-span bridges.




Vehicle-bridge Interaction Dynamics


Book Description

The commercial operation of the bullet train in 1964 in Japan marked the beginning of a new era for high-speed railways. Because of the huge amount of kinetic energy carried at high speeds, a train may interact significantly with the bridge and even resonate with it under certain circumstances. Equally important is the riding comfort of the train cars, which relates closely to the maneuverability of the train during its passage over the bridge at high speeds.This book is unique in that it is devoted entirely to the interaction between the supporting bridges and moving trains, the so-called vehicle-bridge interaction (VBI). Finite element procedures have been developed to treat interaction problems of various complexities, while the analytical solutions established for some typical problems are helpful for identifying the key parameters involved. Besides, some field tests were conducted to verify the theories established.This book provides an up-to-date coverage of research conducted on various aspects of the VBI problems. Using the series of VBI elements derived, the authors study a number of frontier problems, including the impact response of bridges with elastic bearings, the dynamic response of curved beam to moving centrifugal forces, the stability and derailment of trains moving over bridges shaken by earthquakes, the impact response of two trains crossing on a bridge, the steady-state response of trains moving over elevated bridges, and so on.




Recommendations for Stay Cable Design, Testing and Installation


Book Description

Published in SI units, and re-organized into a Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRED) format, designed to be used with the AASHTO LRED Bridge Design Code.




Moving Loads - Dynamic Analysis and Identification Techniques


Book Description

The interaction phenomenon is very common between different components of a mechanical system. It is a natural phenomenon and is found with the impact force in aircraft landing; the estimation of degree of ripeness of an apple from impact on a beam; the interaction of the magnetic head of a computer disk leading to miniature development of modern c




Bridge Traffic Loading


Book Description

There is considerable uncertainty about what level of traffic loading bridges should be designed for. Codes specify notional load models, generally to represent extreme levels of normal traffic, but these are often crude and have inconsistent levels of safety for different load effects. Over the past few decades, increasing quantities of reliable truck weight data has become available and it is now possible to calculate appropriate levels of bridge traffic loading, both for specific bridges and for a road network. Bridge Traffic Loading brings together experts from all over the world to deliver not just the state-of-the-art of vertical loading, but also to provide recommendations of best-practice for all the major challenges in the field – short-span, single and multi-lane bridge loading, dynamic allowance and long-span bridges. It reviews issues that continue to be debated, such as which statistical distribution is most appropriate, whether free-flowing or congested traffic governs and dealing with future traffic growth. Specialist consultants and bridge owners should find this invaluable, as will regulators.




Reliability and Safety of Cable-Supported Bridges


Book Description

Bridge design and construction technologies have experienced remarkable developments in recent decades, and numerous long-span bridges have been built or are under construction all over the world. Cable-supported bridges, including cable-stayed bridges and suspension bridges, are the main type of these long-span bridges, and are widely used in highways crossing gorges, rivers, and gulfs, due to their superior structural mechanical properties and beautiful appearance. However, cable-supported bridges suffer from harsh environmental effects and complex loading conditions, such as heavier traffic loads, strong winds, corrosion effects, and other natural disasters. Therefore, the lifetime safety evaluation of these long-span bridges considering the rigorous service environments is an essential task. Features: Presents a comprehensive explanation of system reliability evaluation for all aspects of cable-supported bridges. Includes a comprehensive presentation of the application of system reliability theory in bridge design, safety control, and operational management. Addresses fatigue reliability, dynamic reliability and seismic reliability assessment of bridges. Presents a complete investigation and case study in each chapter, allowing readers to understand the applicability for real-world scenarios. Reliability and Safety of Cable-Supported Bridges provides a comprehensive application and guidelines for system reliability techniques in cable-supported bridges. Serving as a practical educational resource for both undergraduate and graduate level students, practicing engineers, and researchers, it also intends to provide an intuitive appreciation for probability theory, statistical methods, and reliability analysis methods.




Structural Health Monitoring of Long-Span Suspension Bridges


Book Description

Long span suspension bridges cost billions. In recent decades, structural health monitoring systems have been developed to measure the loading environment and responses of these bridges in order to assess serviceability and safety while tracking the symptoms of operational incidents and potential damage. This helps ensure the bridge functions prope







Advanced Materials and Techniques for Structural Monitoring, Analysis and Control


Book Description

Assessing the service status and maintaining the safety of existing structures are critical to the sustainable operations of various engineering and cross-industry, including civil infrastructures, railways and machinery. Static and dynamic structural characteristics play a key role in the global deterioration assessment of the structural performance, which has enabled structural monitoring and analysis technology to become an active focus in the engineering area. Meanwhile, structural control has been widely used in modern structural engineering. Structural control devices are implemented to enhance deteriorating structures and mitigate natural disasters. Through advanced structural control technology, the structural responses can be controlled. These structural control techniques include passive, active or semi-active reverse forces, which aim to modify structural stiffness, mass and damping with minimal control force. Structural control, monitoring and analysis complement each other, ensuring the safety of the structure to the greatest extent.




Analysis and Design of Bridges


Book Description

The Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Analysis and Design of Bridges held at ~e§me, lzmir, Turkey from 28 June 1982 to 9 July 1982 are contained in the present volume. The Advanced Study Institute was attended by 37 lecturers and participants from 10 different countries. The Organizing Committee consisted of Professors P. Gtilkan, A. C. Scordelis, S. T. Wasti and 9. Yl. lmaz. The guidelines set by NATO for the Advanced Study Institute require it to serve not only as an efficient forum for the dissemination of available advanced knowledge to a selected group of qualified people but also as a platform for the exploration of future research possibilities in the scientific or engineering areas concerned. The main topics covered by the present Advanced Study Institute were the mathematical modelling of bridges for better analysis and the scientific assessment of bridge behaviour for the introduction of improved design procedures. It has been our observation that as a result of the range and depth of the lectures presented and the many informal discussions that took place, ideas became fissile, the stimulus never flagged and many gaps in the engineering knowledge of the participants were "bridged". Here we particularly wish to mention that valuable informal presenta tions of research work were made during the course of the Institute by Drs. Friedrich, Karaesmen, Lamas and Parker.